Building structure



Sept. 7, 1965 B. SMALL BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed May 24, 1961 ad m 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY-6.

Sept. 7, 1965 I B. SMALL 3,204,373

BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed May 24, 1961 I 4 She?ts-Sheet 2 Sept. 7, 1965 B. SMALL 3,204,373

BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed May 24, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 EN TOR.

AWANEYQ Sept. 7, 1965 B. SMALL BUILDING STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 24, 1961 I EN TOR. XMAL KN sq ATTOFAEYS.

United States Patent 3,204,373 BUILDING STRUCTURE Benjamin Small, 90 Grosvenor Road, Kenmore, N.Y. Filed May 24, 1961, Ser. No. 112,437 8 Claims. (Cl. 52-90) This invention relates to a building structure and more particularly to a small building structure of single smallroom size such as would be used as an auxiliary building for the storage of lawn furniture or garden tools, or as a play house for children or such as would be used as a shelter in the wilds.

An important object of the invention is to provide an all-metal building structure which is composed essentially of low cost sheet metal parts connected together by bolts and clips and in which none of the parts are of excessive length so that the entire building structure can be packaged unassembled in a carton which can be readily shipped and transported to the site, even though the site is relatively inaccessible.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a building which is of strong, sturdy, rigid construction and which adequately withstands the elements, particularly in being free from leakage and drafts in driving rain and wind storms.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure which can be made of a size in which adults can freely move around to facilitate its use in storing a substantial quantity of large articles.

Another important object of the invention is to provide such a building structure which can be easily erected by one having little skill and which requires only the use of simple tools to tighten the bolts and certain clips.

Another most important object of the invention is to provide a building structure in which the sheet metal roof panel sections and siding panel sections are strongly secured at their ends to the frame of the building in a rattle-proof manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and easily applied means for spring loading the joints between the several sheet metal roof and siding panel sections so as to render the joints wind-tight and rattleproof.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a spring loading means which can be used between the uppermost roof panels and the roof cap to provide a wind-tight and rattle-proof joint therebetween, and in which a similar spring loading means can be used between the uppermost siding panel and the frame for a similar purpose.

Another object is to provide such a building structure in which simple and effective clips are employed for securing the lower edges of all of the siding panels to the sills of the frame.

Another object is to provide such a building structure which has a minimum number of different parts and includes a large number of parts of exactly the same configuration to be used for different services thereby to reduce the cost as well as to facilitate erection of the building structure by novices.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a building structure which is very attractive in appearance and which can be provided with a door providing ready access to large pieces of garden furniture, lawn equipment and the like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a building structure embodying the present invention;

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FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof, the opposite side elevational view being substantially the same;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view;

, FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical transverse section taken generally on line 4-4, FIG. 2;

FIG. 4a is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 4, but ,on a greatly enlarged scale and being restricted to the ,a portion of the peak of the roof;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 4, but on a greatly enlarged scale and being restricted to the joint between two side wall panel sections;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section taken generally on line 66, FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a still further enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken generally on line 77, FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the top of a corner post and associated parts;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary horizontal section on the same scale as FIG. 7, taken generally on line 9-9, FIG. 1, this being through the bottom of one of the corner posts;

FIG. 10 is a perspective exploded view of the bottom of a corner post and associated parts;

FIG. 11 is a vertical fragmentary section taken on line 1111, FIG. 10, and showing the manner in which the side panels are joined to the sills;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section ,through the doorway of the building structure taken gen- ,erally through line 1212, FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of one of the gable panels, these being identical at the front and rear of the building structure;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the front sill of the building structure;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of one of the horizontal bars at the top of the side panels of the house and supporting the roof;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of one of the sills which are employed along the sides and rear of the building structure;

FIG. 17 is a perspective View of one of the spacers used in the joints between the panel sections to bias the panel sections apart to eliminate rattling thereof.

The building structure embodying the present invention was primarily designed as a garden house for the storage of tools or furniture and comprising a single room of a size in which an adult can move around, although the invention is not, of course, limited to any' particular use.

The building structure can be set upon a concrete slab, such as indicated at 20 in FIG. 9, and from each corner of which a stud bolt 21 is shown as rising, this being for the purpose of anchoring down each corner of the building structure and having a nut 22 for this purpose. However, the building structure can be set upon the ground.

with the stud bolts 21 in the form of stakes driven into the ground, or any suitable footings can be employed. Each stud bolt extends upwardly through a horizontal plate 23 which is of generally triangular form in plan and has a pair of upright flanges 25 rising from its outer edges and which flanges and outer edges are preferably in perpendicular relation to each other. The inner edge of each anchor plate 23 is preferably reinforced by an upstanding flange 26 and the anchor bolt 21 projects upwardly through a hole 28 in the anchor plate and the nut 22 bears downwardly against this anchor plate. Each upstanding flange 25 is provided with a pair of bolt holes 29 and it will be noted that these flanges are spaced from each other as indicated at 30, FIG. 10.

To the flanges 25 of each pair of anchor plates 23 is bolted the bottom of a corner post 33. Each corner post 33 is made of sheet metal and is generally of W-shaped form in horizontal section, having two vertical side flanges 34 arranged in perpendicular relation to each other and having an integral inner backbone or center web portion 35 composed of two connected sides of V-shaped channel form in cross section and connected at their edges to the side flanges 34 and shown as arranged in-perpendicular relation to each other and in perpendicular relation to these side flanges. This backbone or center web portion 35 fits .in the space 30 of its anchor plate-23 and the side flange 34 fits against the outside of the upstanding flanges .25 of its anchor plate 23. Each of the side flanges 34 is provided with bolts 36 which register with the bolt holes 29 and at its opposite or upper end is provided with similar bolt holes 36. Each post 33 is also provided along the center of its web 35 with a longitudinal series of bolt holes 38.

The posts atthe four corners of the building are identical except for that front corner post which forms one side of the frame fora door indicated generally at 45. With this corner post, the corresponding side flange 34a of the corner post 33a is extended and provided with a reversely curved lip 46 which extends the full height of the post for the purpose of avoiding a sharp edge for the jamb of door frame.

The same numerals have been used for the same parts of the corner post 3311 as for the other corner posts 33 and distinguished by the suffix a.

The upstanding flanges 25 of the base plates 23 at the front of the building structure, as Well as the corner posts 33, 33a at the front of the building structure are. connected by a sill 48. These anchor plate flanges and the front corner posts supported thereby are connected to the rear ,corner'posts, and these rear corner posts and the flanges of the base plates 23 of these rear corner posts are connected with one another by sills 49 illustrated in FIG. 16, the latter being identical in construction.

Referring particularly to the sill 48 at the front of the house, it comprises a channel bar 50' arranged with its channel facing downwardly as best illustrated at the right of FIG. and in FIG. 14. To the vertical outside face of the front flange 51 are secured, as by welding, a pair of upstanding plates 52 and 53, which are spaced from each other to form the bottom of the doorway, one side of which, as previously indicated, is formed by the bent edge 46 of the outer portion 34a of the front corner post 33a.

The upstanding plate 52 is in the form of a small rectangular upright plate having a pair of bolt holes 54 which register with the bolt holes 29 and 36a through the base plate flange 25 and the corner post 33a, bolts 55 passing through these holes to secure these parts together. The other upstanding front plate 53 of the front sill 48 is formed to provide an elevated rearward-1y projecting horizontal flange 56, the rear edge of which is bent upwardly to provide an upstanding reinforcing flange 57. The extremity of the upstanding plate 53 remote from the upstanding plate 52 is provided with a pair of bolt holes 58 which are arranged to register with the bolt holes 29 and 36 of the corresponding front anchoring plate 23 and corner post 33 and to be secured thereto by the bolts 55 as best shown in FIG. 9. The end of the upstanding plate 53 adjacent the doorway is also provided with a pair of horizontally spaced holes 59 for the attachment of a vertical post forming the other side of the doorway as hereafter described. I i

The sills 49 at the other three sides of the house, as'

best illustrated at the left of FIG. 10 and in FIG. 16, are each of channel form in cross section with their channels facing horizontally inwardly and with a lower horizontal flange 60 and with a horizontal top flange 61, the inner extremity of which latter is formed to provide an upstanding reinforcing flange 63. At each end, each of these sills 49 is provided with a pair of bolt holes 64 which are arranged to register with the bolt holes 29 and 36 of the anchor plates 23 and corner posts 33a secured thereto by the bolts 55. Y

To the upper end of each corner post 33, 33a is bolted a top plate 23a, these top plates 23a being identical with the anchor plates 23, but being arranged in inverted relation, that is, with their flanges 25a extending downwardly. For the top plates 23a, the central hole 28a serves no useful purpose, these holes being provided only for the anchor bolts 21 when these plates are used as base anchor plates. The depending flanges 25a of each of these top plates 23a are secured to the upper ends of the posts 33, 33a by bolts 55 passing through the holes 29a and 36 in the top plates and upper ends of the posts, respectively. These bolts also secure the front and rear gable sections 68 at the front and rear of'the building structure. These bolts 55 also connect withupper side bars 69 which connect, at the sides of the building structure, the upper ends of the posts together.

Each gable section 68 is made of sheetmetal and comprises a vertical triangular web or wall 70 having flanges 71 projecting outwardly, with reference to the building structure, from its upper edges, these flanges meeting at the peak of the'gable'sections. Adjacent these meeting edges each of. these flanges is provided with abolt hole 72. An integral flange 73 projects horizontally outwardly from thelower horizontal edge and the triangular web or wall 70 and the outer edge of this flange 73 is continued downwardly in the form of a downwardly projecting flange 74. A pair of horizontally inwardly projecting flanges 75 form a continuation of the lower edge of this downwardly projecting flange 74 and the longitudinal extremity of each of these flanges 75 is bent upwardly, as indicated at 76, to form an upwardly open channel 77, extending lengthwise of the gable section. These flanges 75, 76 are spaced from the ends of the gable section and the verticalflanges 74 at these ends of each gable section' and extending beyond the flanges 75, 76 are provided with bolt holes 78 which are spaced to receive the corresponding bolts 55, the flanges 74 being sandwiched between the depending flanges 25a of the top corner plates 23 and the corner posts 33, 33a as best illustrated in FIG. 7. These flanges 75, 76 along the bottomedgesof each gable section 68 are also spaced from each other at the center of the gable, as indicated at 79, this being for the accommodation of a center door framepost as hereinafter described, and having a pair of boltholes 80 for'securing this center door frame post as hereinafter described. Each gable section can also be stamped to provide louvers 81 for ventilation purposes. Each gable section 68 is provided at its peak in its vertical web or Wall with four bolt holes 82 by means of which a ridge pole is bolted to these gable sections as hereinafter described.

The side top rails 69 connecting the upper ends of the posts at sides of the building structure are shown as each comprising a single piece of sheet metal of Z-shape form in cross section having a vertical web 85, a top flange 86- projectinghorizontallyoutwardly, with reference to the building structure, from the upper edge of the web 85,

and a bottom flange 87 projecting horizontally inwardly with reference to the building structure, from the bottomedge of the vertical web and reinforced along 'its inner edge by an upstanding flange 88 so as to form an upwardly opening channel 89. The upper flange 86 is provided at each end with a pair of bolt holes 90 andthe lower flange 87 terminates short of the ends of the bar. The extensions of the web 85 beyond the lower flange is formed to provide a pair of horizontally spaced holes 91 which receive the .bolts' 55 at the upper corners 7. The vertical web of each side top rail 69 is provided with a series of bolt holes 92 used to secure rafters, as hereinafter described. The building frame also includes a beam ridge pole indicated generally at 95. This ridge pole is composed of two sheet metal channel bars 96 secured together back to back. Vertical end flanges or plates 97 are provided at each end of the ridge pole 95, these end flanges being provided with four bolt holes 98 which are arranged to register with the four bolt holes 82 at the peaks of the gable sections 68 and to be secured thereto by bolts 99.

Each of the two channels 96 constituting the ridge pole 95 is provided with a series of bolt holes severally arranged in line between the bolt holes 92 of the side frame top bars 69 to receive bolts 100. Each of these bolts secure the upper end of a corresponding rafter 101 to the ridge pole, the lower ends of these rafters being secured by bolts 102 through the bolt holes 92 of the side top frame bars 69. These rafters are shown as being of channel form in cross section, the bolt 100 passing through a horizontal tongue extension 103 at the upper end of the rafter and the bolts 102 passing through a vertical tongue extension 104 at the lower end of each rafter.

The frame of the building structure is completed by a door frame center post 105 which forms the side or jamb of the door frame opposite from the other door frame corner post 3311. This door frame center post 105 is shown as being in the form of a vertically elongated sheet metal front plate or web 106 having at one vertical longitudinal side a perpendicular flange 108 projecting toward the inside of the building and this flange being continued in the form of a flange 109 arranged parallel with the web or plate 106 and projecting toward the corner post 33a so as to form an L-shaped channel 110 adapted to receive the hinged side door 45. The vertical end extremity 111 .of the flange 109 is reversely bent or seamed so as to avoid a sharp edge at this vertical side of the door frame which the door frame center post 105 forms.

This door frame center post 105 is provided with a pair of horizontally spaced holes 112 at its upper end which register with the holes 00 of the front gable section 68 and receive bolts 113 which connect these parts together. This door frame center post 105 is similarly provided with a pair of horizontally spaced holes 114 at its lower end which are arranged to register with the holes 59 of the front sill bar 48 and receive bolts 115 which connect these parts together. This door frame center post 105 is also provided with a series of holes 116 arranged in groups in vertical alinement for attachment of the door hinges as hereinafter described.

A vertical sheet metal bar 120 is arranged against the side of the door frame center post 105 facing the inside of the building and is secured in position by the bolts 113 and 115 which also secure the door frame center post. This sheet metal bar 120 is Z-shaped or chair-shaped in cross section having one flange 121 arranged in face-toface relation with the inside face of the door frame center post 105 and having a web 122 and opposite vertical flange 123 which forms a channel 125 which is on the side of the door frame center post opposite from the door 45.

Except for the door 45, the building structure is enclosed by siding and roof panels which are identical in construction except for length. The sheet metal panel sections used to cover the roof are the longest and are designated at 130. The next longest group of sheet metal panel sections, designated at 130a, are used as the siding for the back and the two fore-and-aft sides of the building structure. The shortest of these panel sections are used as the siding for the front of the building structure and are designated at 1301). Since except for their length these panel sections are identical and are mounted in the same manner, a description of the roof panel sections 130 will be deemed to apply to the other panel sections 130a and 130b, the corresponding parts of these latter panel sections being distinguished by the suflixes a and I), respectively.

The roof panel sections 130 extend lengthwise of the ridge from the forward edges of the top flanges 71 of the front gable sections 68 and are supported by these flanges and gable sections as Well as by the rafters 101. Each sheet metal panel section 130 is made of a single sheet of metal and is provided along one edge with a reversely bent integral L-shaped flange 131 which is arranged to project from one side of the panel section and which forms with the body of the panel section, a channel 132 opening toward the center of the panel section. The opposite edge is formed to provide an integral reversely bent L-shaped flange 133 which projects from the opposite side of the panel section as compared with the flange 131, and which forms, with the body of the panel section, a channel 134 also opening toward the center of the panel section. At its center the panel section is sharply offset, as indicated :at 135, this offset being shaped to simulate clapboard siding.

The roof also includes a roof cap 136 at the peak of the roof, this roof cap being made of a single piece of sheet metal bent to provide a center peak 138 extending lengthwise of the ridge pole and having its opposite longitudinal edges formed downwardly and then toward each other to provide reversely bent hook integral shaped flanges 139 forming channels 140 which open toward the peak 138 of the roof cap. The roof cap is also provided at its opposite ends with a pair of holes adapted to receive bolts 141 which pass through and anchor in the holes 72 at the upper ends of the flanges 71 of the two gable sections 68.

The roof panels are laid so that, from the exterior, the sharp center shoulders or offsets face downwardly and in laying the uppermost pair of roof panels 1350 their reversely bent hook-shaped flanges 131 are caught or inserted into the channels along the opposite longitudinal edges of the roof cap 136. It will be seen that this provides a rain tight joint between this roof cap 136 and the uppermost pair of panel sections 130, any rain being driven up below the edges of the roof cap being prevented from entering the building structure by virtue of the dams formed by the reversely bent flanges 131 rising from the top panel sections.

A further important feature of the invention is that in these joints, as well as in the other joints between the several panel sections 130, 130a and 13012, provision is made against rattling and to insure a draft-tight seal for these joints. This is accomplished by the same channelshaped spring pieces 142 illustrated in perspective in FIG. 17. These channel-shaped spring pieces are preferably of rounding C-shaped form in cross section and are made of a metal which is inherently springy with their legs 143 biased away from each other. Before the reversely bent flanges 131 are inserted into the channel 140 of the roof cap 136 as above described two or more, preferably three, of the small channel-shaped spring pieces shown in FIG. 17 are inserted, leg first, into the channels 140 of the roof cap. Accordingly, when the reversely bent flange 131 of the roof panels are additionally forced into these channels 140, the spring legs 143 of the channel-shaped spring pieces 142 bias the outboard edge of the reversely formed channel 131 upwardly into a yielding or pressure fit against the body of the roof cap 136 thereby to provide a tight spring loaded fit between these parts. This not only couples the uppermost roof panel sections 130 to the roof cap 136 with a spring loaded or yielding joint so as toprevent these parts from moving relative to each other and rattling under heavy wind stress, but also insures a tight yielding joint between the opposing faces of these parts so as to insure against air movement, or drafts, between these parts into the interior of the building even during heavy windstorms.

The roofing is shown as completed by three panel sections 130 in addition to the pair just described. These panel sections are joined in tandem with their reversely bent flanges 131 arranged uppermost and fitted under the next higher roofing panel section 130 into the channel 134 of this next higher roofing panel section. With each of these joints preferably three of the channel-shaped spring pieces 142 are inserted into each of the channels 134, leg first, before the joint is made, so that when the flange 131 is fitted in this channel it will be biased laterally to provide a rattle and wind-tight joint between the several roof panel sections.

The lowermost panel sections of the roof rest on and project beyond the flanges 86 of the two top side bars 69 connecting the upper ends of each pair of front and rear corner posts. These projecting ends of the lowermost panel sections 130 thereby provide eaves which not only impart a finished appearance to the building structure but also insure that water draining from the roof falls to the ground instead of flowing down the side walls.

The several roof panel sections 130 are held down and the roof is completed by sheet metal gable trim channels 150. Each of these channels is of U-shaped form in cross section with one leg 151 shorter, transversely of the gable trim channel, than its other leg 152, but both of these legs extending the full length of the gable trim channel. These gable trim channels are fitted around the several upper flanges 71 of the front and rear gable sections 68 to also embrace and hold down the ends of the several panel sections 130. Thus, it will be noted that the short leg 151 of each gable trim channel 150 engages the under face of its flange 71 while its longer leg 152 engages the top sides of the corresponding ends of the panel sections 130 strung along and supported by this gable section flange 71. The upper end of each gable trim channel 150 is secured by the bolt 141 which also secured the roof cap 136. The lower end of each gable trim channel 150 is secured by a bolt 153, this bolt passing through the bolt hole 90 provided in the corresponding end of the top horizontal frame bars 69 which extend fore-and-aft of the building.

The intermediate length siding panels 130a enclose the rear and fore-and-aft sides of the building structure. These panels are arranged so that, viewed from the exterior of the building, their abrupt central shoulders or offsets 135:: face downwardly so that each panel section has the appearance of being two clapboards.

The reversely bent or hook-shaped edge flange 131a of the uppermost panel section for the rear of the building is caught or inserted downwardly into the upwardly facing channel 77 of the rear gable section 68 and before this insertion a number, preferably three, of the channelshaped spring pieces 142, leg first, into the channels 77 so that when the insertion of the reversely bent upper flange 131a is made a rattle and weather-proof joint is effected between these parts, as previously described. The insertion of these panel sections is made from the inside of the building with the ends of the panel sections 130a at the rear of the building being arranged against the inside faces of the side flanges 34 of the rear pair of corner posts 33.

In completing the siding of the rear of the building structure, a number of the panel sect-ions 130a are hung from one another in tandem and in each instance three channel-shaped spring pieces 142 are inserted in the upwardly facing channels 134a of each except the bottom most channel before fitting the flange 131a of the next lower panel section therein so as to provide rattle-proof and weather-tight spring loaded joints therebetween. All of the panel sections have their ends disposed against the inside faces of the corresponding flanges 34 of the rearmost corner posts 33.

The panel sections 13012 for the sides of the building structure are hung in the same manner. Thus a number, say three, of thechannel-shaped spring pieces 142 are inserted, leg first, downwardly into the channels 89 of the fore-and-aft top frame bars 69 connecting the tops of the front and rear corner posts 33, 33a. The top flange 131a of the uppermost panel section is then inserted into each of these channels 89, to have this inserted flange biased outwardly by the legs of the channel-shaped spring piece 142 to provide a rattle and weather-tight joint. A number of these channel-shaped spring pieces 142 are then inserted downwardly, leg first, into the channel 134a of this erected panel section 130a and the flange 131a of the next succeeded panel section 130a additionally inserted therein. This erection is continued until each of the fore-andaft sides of the building structure has been completely sheathed.

The front sheathing 130i; is then erected. For this the shortest panel sections 13% are employed and a pair of channel-shaped spring pieces 142 are first inserted downwardly, leg first, into the channels 77 at the end of the front gable section 68 remote from the door 45. The top flange 13112 of the uppermost panel section 130k is then inserted into the channel 77 to hang from the front gable section 68 and to be spring loaded by the channelshaped spring parts 142 to provide a rattle-proof and weather-proof joint. In so erecting this uppermost panel section 130b, one end is inserted into the channel of the door frame center post 105.

As with the other panel sections, the panel sections 13% are progressively erected, being hung from one another by their longitudinal edge channels in which are also inserted the channel-shaped spring pieces 142 to insure rattle-proof and weather-tight joints.

The securement of the side panels a and 130b is completed by inner retainer bars 154 at each of the four corner posts 33, 33a of the building structure, these retainer bars also serving to strengthen these posts as well as to hold the ends of the sheet metal siding panel sections 130a and 13% tightly against these posts. Each of these retainer bars 154 is made of sheet metal of W- form in cross section preferably, with a central web or a backbone 155 which is of perpendicular V-shape in cross section and the outer longitudinal edges of which are continued in the form of flanges 156 arranged in perpendicular relation to each other and adapted to fit against the ends of the corresponding groups of panel sections 130a or 1313b. The web or backbone 155 of. each of the retainer bars 154 conforms to the correspondingly shaped backbone or center web 35 of its corner post 33 or 33a, being of V-shaped channel form in cross section, and additionally each retainer bar 154 is provided with a longitudinalseries of bolt holes 158 which register with the companion bolt holes 38 of the corner post and receive bolts 159 passing through these pairs of holes. It will be seen that by tightening these bolts 159, each retainer bar 154 is drawn toward its corner post 33 or 3311 thereby to bring its longitudinal vertical edge flanges 156 into compressive relation with the adjacent ends of the panel sections 130a or 13% and to press these panel sections firmly against the outer flanges 34 or 34a of the corner post and provide a rattle-proof seal between the ends of these panels and the corner posts of the building structure.

Clips 160 join the lower edges of the lowermost of the siding panel sections 130a and 13% to the several sills. Each of these clips is in the form of a U-shaped strap of metal having a short leg 161 and a long leg 162. These legs are closely spaced to fit down against and around the lowermost flange 133a or 133b of the lowermost panel section 130a or 13011 and also around the upstanding flange of the corresponding sill. Thus, at the sides and rear of the building, these clips fit around the upstanding flange 63 of the sills 49. After these clips are so fitted, the longer leg 162 is then forced inwardly under the flange 63 of the sill 49 so as to draw the clip into firm compressive relation with the parts which it connects. Similarly, clips are provided to hold down the lowermost edge of the lowermost panel sections 1321: at the front of the building, the long leg 162 of the clip in this case embracing the flange 57 of the front sill 48 flange 133b of the lowermost panel 13% into compressive relation with this flange 57 of the front sill 48.

The building structure is completed by the door 45 which forms no part of the invention and hence is not illustrated in detail. It is shown as being in the form of a so-called door with an upper section 165 swingable independently of and overlapping a lower section 166. Each section is shown as supported by a pair of hinges 168, these hinges being anchored by means of the bolt holes 116 in the door frame center post 105, bolts 169 securing these hinges through these holes to this door frame center post. The upper door section 165 is shown as provided with a small window 170 and any means (not shown) can be provided for locking the upper door sec tion so as to prevent unauthorized access to the building.

From the foregoing the following features will be noted: (1) the siding panel sections 130a and 13015 are firmly held at their ends against the vertical side flanges 34 and 34a of the corner posts 33 and 33a by the side flanges 156 of the retainer bars 154 and the bolts 159 passing through the backbones 35, 35a and 155 of these parts, (2) the channel-shaped form of these backbones contribute greatly to the strength of the corner posts and provide a groove or countersink for the corner post bolts 159 to render them inconspicuous, (3) the flanges 25 of the base plates 23 are spaced to receive these backbones between them, (4) this position of the upstanding base plate flanges 25 also adapts them for attachment to the sills 48 and 49 Without additional bolts, (5) the sills 48 and 49 have the top edge flanges 57 and 63 which receive and provide a Weather-tight joint with the lower edges of the lowermost siding panels 130a, 13012, (6) this construction also is adapted to the use of the simple clips 160 to secure the bottom panel sections to the sills, (7) the top plates 23 conform to the base plates 23 and are secured as caps to the corner post side flanges 33, 34a in the same manner but being connected with the horizontal top wall frame members 68 and 69 instead of the sills, (8) the siding panels 130a and 13Gb are suspended from these horizontal top wall frame members 68 and 69, (9) this is done by the simple provision of the channels 77 and 89 in which the uppermost siding panels are hooked, (10) the channel shaped spring pieces 142 provide a very simple and easily applied way of spring loading the joints between the several panel sections and between the uppermost panel sections and the frame of the building structure, (11) the gable sections 68 provide a very simple support for the ends of the roof panel sections and their flanges 71 adapt the structure to the use of the simple gable trim channels 150 to anchor the ends of the roof panels, and (12) the flanges 86 of the foreand-aft upper horizontal frame bars 69 provide adequate support for the lower portions of the lowermost roof panel sections as eaves.

What is claimed is:

1. In a building structure, a plurality of one-piece sheet metal posts each of W-form in horizontal cross section and having a longitudinally extending backbone portion of channel-shaped form in horizontal cross section and side flanges forming continuations of the outer edges of said backbone portion and extending substantially the full lenght thereof in planes which are perpendicular with reference to each other, said side flanges being adapted to support siding panels aranged against the sides of said flanges facing the interior of the building, a one-piece vertical retainer bar of W-form in horizontal cross section arranged within and generally conforming in horizontal cross section to a companion corner post, having a longitudinally extending backbone portion of channel-shaped form in horizontal cross section and side flanges forming continuations of the outer edges of said last named backbone portion, said side flanges being arranged in generally parallel relation to the companion flanges of the companion corner post and adapted to engage the sides of said siding panels remote from said corner posts, bolts extending through said backbone portions of said corner posts and retainer bars and adapted to compress said siding panels between the flanges thereof, a horizontal top plate above each of said corner posts and each including a pair of spaced depending flanges arranged parallel with said planes alongside said side flanges of the companion corner post with said backbone portion of the companion corner post being interposed between said depending flanges of its top plate, horizontal upper side wall frame members having their opposite ends arranged alongside said depending flanges, and means securing said depending flanges of each top plate to said side flanges of the companion corner post and to the opposite ends of the corresponding horizontal upper side wall frame members.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the upper side wall frame members at the front and rear of the building structure are in the form of vertical triangular gable sections with flanges along their upper edges leading upwardly to a central peak and which last mentioned flanges are adapted to support sheet metal roof panels with their ends resting thereon, and means adapted to secure said ends of said sheet metal roof panels to said flanges of said gable sections.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein the upper side wall frame members extending fore-and-aft of the building structure are provided with longitudinal laterally extending flanges arranged at an angle conforming to the upper edge of said gable sections and wherein the lowermost sheet metal roof panel at each side of the building structure is adapted to rest on and project beyond the corresponding one of said last mentioned flanges to form eaves at the sides of the building structure.

4. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said last means comprises sheet metal gable trim channels having one leg extending under and engaging the corresponding flange of said gable sections and the other leg adapted to extend over the corresponding ends of said metal roof panels.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein bolts pass through said flanges of said gable sections and said gable trim channels.

6. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the upper side wall frame members at the front and rear of the building are in the form of vertical traingular gable sections with horizontal flanges along their upper edges projecting outwardly with reference to the building and leading upwardly to a central roof peak, wherein the other upper side wall frame members extending foreand-aft of the building structure are provided with laterally extending flanges projecting outwardly with reference to the building structure at an angle to form a continuation of the upper edges of said gable sections and which last mentioned flanges are adapted to support sheet metal roof panels with their ends resting thereon and with the lowermost roof panels being adapted to rest on and form an eave continuation of said flanges of said other upper side Wall frame members, and means adapted to secure said ends of said sheet metal roof panels both to said flanges of said gable sections and to said flanges of said other side wall frame members.

7. The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein said last means comprises sheet metal gable trim channels having one leg extending under and engaging the corresponding flange of said gable sections and the other leg adapted to extend over the corresponding ends of said metal roof panels.

8. The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein bolts pass both through said flanges of said gable sections and said gable trim channels and also through said flanges of said other upper side wall frame members and said gable trim channels.

(References on following page) 11' References Cited by the Examiner 2,213,519 9/640 Taber 7 I Y '5 2394 1 er 1,588,655 6/26 Brunnel 52262 5 342459 7/36 Italy- 1,997,294 4/35 Curtis 52-2 2 RICHARD w. COQKE, 511,, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A BUILDING STRUCTURE, A PLURALITY OF ONE-PIECE SHEET METAL POSTS EACH OF W-FORM IN HORIZONTAL CROSS SECTION AND HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING BACKBONE PORTION OF CHANNEL-SHAPED FORM IN HORIZONTAL CROSS SECTION AND SIDE FLANGES FORMING CONTINUATIONS OF THE OUTER EDGES OF SAID BACKBONE PORTION AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THE FULL LENGTH THEREOF IN PLANES WHICH ARE PERPENDICULAR WITH REFERENCE TO EACH OTHER, SAID SIDE FLANGES BEING ADAPTED TO SUPPORT SIDING PANELS ARRANGES AGAINST THE SIDES OF SAID FLANGES FACING THE INTERIOR OF THE BUILDING, A ONE-PIECE VERTICAL RETAINER BAR OF W-FORM IN HORIZONTAL CROSS SECTION ARRANGED WITHIN AND GENERALLY CONFORMING IN HORIZONTAL CROSS SECTION TO A COMPANION CORNER POST, HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING BACKBONE PORTION OF CHANNEL-SHAPED FORM IN HORIZONTAL CROSS SECTION AND SIDE FLANGES FORMING CONTINUATIONS OF THE OUTER EDGES OF SAID LAST NAMED BACKBONE PORTION, SAID SIDE FLANGES BEING ARRANGED IN GENERALLY PARALLEL RELATION TO THE COMPANION FLANGES OF THE COMPANION CORNER POST AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE SIDES OF SAID SIDING PANELS REMOTE FROM SAID CORNER POSTS, BOLTS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID BACKBONE PORTIONS OF SAID CORNER POSTS AND RETAINER BARS AND ADAPTED TO COMPRESS SAID SIDING PANELS BETWEEN THE FLANGES THEREOF, A HORIZONTAL TOP PLATE ABOVE EACH OF SAID CORNER POSTS AND EACH INCLUDING A PAIR OF SPACED DEPENDING FLANGES ARRANGED PARALLEL WITH SAID PLANES ALONGSIDE SAID SIDE FLANGES OF THE COMPANION CORNER POST WITH SAID BACKBONE PORTION OF THE COMPANION CORNER POST BEING INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID DEPENDING FLANGES OF ITS TOP PLATE, HORIZONTAL UPPER SIDE WALL FRAME MEMBERS HAVING THEIR OPPOSITE ENDS ARRANGED ALONGSIDE SAID DEPENDING FLANGES, AND MEANS SECURING SAID DEPENDING FLANGES OF EACH TOP PLATE TO SAID SIDE FLANGES OF THE COMPANION CORNER POST AND TO THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE CORRESPONDING HORIZONTAL UPPER SIDE WALL FRAME MEMBERS. 